Sergey Esenin
Wolf Nemesis

Ancient mysterious world of mine,
You quietened like a wind blown out.
The new road’s asphalt fingers twine
The village’s soft throat about.

With what blind fear in snow-chaos
The clanging terror rocked and swayed.
Good day to you, black Nemesis!
I come out to meet you half way.

O city in your bitter throes
You called us carrion scum. And now
The fields freeze ox-eyed in despair,
Throttled by telegraph-poles.

Strong muscles has the devil’s neck,
And lightly wears the iron path.
And what of that ? We have been wrecked
Before now, brought down by the wrath.

May the heart find bitter this hymn
Of the rights of beasts — bitter and long.
For thus they dog the wolf, drive him
Into the beater’s vice-like trap.

— He falls, and from the gloomy wood
A trigger’s pressed — and then the spring
Swift and sudden — the two-legged foe
Is savaged in his turn by fangs.

Welcome, then, favourite beast! Your hide
Does not yield cheaply to the knife.
I too am hunted on all sides.
Through enemies of steel I walk this life,

Like you, forever vigilant.
And even while their trumpets blow
For victory, my mortal leap
Tastes hostile flesh and blood. And though

I too am fallen to the ground,
And writhe into the snowy cave,
A song of vengeance shall resound
On the other side of the grave.

Translated by Geoffrey Thurley